Headlines

Elevator Talk: Marquis, Transcendence Coffee, Après Hours, Country Luau

Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates. This week's special co-host is Andrew Guard, the founder of The Guard Agency and Right Coast Brands, who shared his thoughts, questions and feedback with the participants.

Spirits: 15 New Autumn Releases From Top Chef to King Tut

In this autumn edition roundup of new spirits releases, Highclere Castle celebrates the anniversary of discovery of King Tut’s tomb, Åhus Akvavit introduces its seasonal blend in the U.S. and Yobo Kish teams up with Top Chef winner Kristen Kish to launch a new aperitif line.

Connecticut Bottle Bill Expansion to Take Effect in January

Beverage companies operating in Connecticut have just two more months to prepare for a sweeping expansion of the state’s bottle laws, which will extend the five cent deposit on packaged drinks to cover the vast bulk of beverage categories and packaging formats effective January 1, 2023.

Taste Radio: The Most ‘Outstanding’ Advantage A Brand Can Have Is One That Many Overlook

Outstanding Foods co-founder and CEO Bill Glaser spoke about how he has applied lessons from prior entrepreneurial ventures to the company’s business strategy, how the brand has attracted celebrity investors and involved them in marketing and promotion efforts, and the evolution of Outstanding Foods’ package design and its alignment with the company’s innovation and retail strategies.

Campari Acquires Wilderness Trail, Extending Bourbon Interests

Campari Group is boosting its Kentucky bourbon portfolio by taking a majority stake in Wilderness Trail Distillery, the company announced today. The move comes at a time when American whiskey continues to rise, and particularly higher-priced brands.

SEC: New Age, Brent Willis Misled Public on CBD Bevs, Distribution Gains

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week sent a cease-and-desist letter to Colorado-based NewAge Inc. in which it accuses the company and former CEO Brent Willis of making multiple false and misleading public statements regarding the company’s CBD beverage business.

GLOW Promises Bright Future with Kylie Jenner, Dak Prescott Partnerships

The California-based beverage company announced this month it has brought on celebrity influencer Kylie Jenner and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott as brand ambassadors and equity stakeholders, kickstarting a national media campaign aimed at rapidly increasing brand awareness.

Taste Radio: Be Different, And Be Wildly Successful. Just Have A Great Operations Plan.

In this episode, the hosts reflected on the passing of legendary beverage entrepreneur and Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, and reviewed several new products and limited-time offerings. Later, operations expert Andrew Guard joined the show for the first edition of a new series in which he answers topical questions about production and scaling strategies.

Will the Recession Stall Momentum for Superpremium Spirits?

Super premium spirits have been outpacing mainstream categories for over a decade, but will a looming recession stall that trajectory? A new report suggests that economic conditions may soften demand for high end wine and spirits, but won’t hinder long term growth.

Suja CEO: Vive Acquisition Provides Big Share in Juice Shots

Following its acquisition of Vive Organic, cold-pressed juice maker Suja is aiming to become a giant player in the 2 oz. shots space. The two California-based companies announced yesterday that Suja has purchased Vive for an undisclosed fee, marking the first acquisition by Suja since it was itself acquired by private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners last year.

GEN Z Water Balances Youthful Humor With Serious Sales, Marketing

Arkansas-based GEN Z Brands is getting serious; led by a team of industry veterans, the bottled water product is rolling out into select Target stores this month as it dials-in on sales and marketing ahead of broader scaling efforts next year.

FMI: Shoppers Adjust Holiday Grocery Habits to Navigate Rising Prices

In response to ever-increasing prices, consumers are adapting to the evolving economy by modifying both their everyday and holiday grocery habits. According to the Food Industry Association’s (FMI) latest report, shoppers’ holiday stress has been amplified by inflationary concerns.